Driving an Epson LQ-570+ printer with an HP Pavillion PC running Vista

[alwill]

Hello fellow computer users.  I hope you can help me.

I have an old (5-7yrs) Epson dot matrix printer (Model LQ-570+) that I am currently using with an old PC running Windows 95 that I would like to now use with my new HP Pavillion (a6257c) desktop which is running Vista.  The printer is in perfectly good working order and I need it for a particular application - printing duplicate forms - so I would very much like to make this conversion.

One obvious problem is hardware related:  the printer is currently connected to the parallel output of the old computer - the new HP computer did not come with a parallel interface card.  The other problem would be software related:  I suppose that I will also need a new driver (if one exists) for the printer which runs under Vista.

One possible solution is to try to connect to the printer via one of these USB-to-Parallel adapter cables that are on the market and then try to find a driver that might be compatible with this arrangement.  Another possible solution is to purchase a parallel interface card for the HP computer (assuming they exist) and then finding a driver to that would work in this configuration.  What are your thoughts on these two options?

Another solution would be to buy a new dot matrix printer that has a USB interface and has drivers that are Vista compatible.  This would obviously be the most expensive solution so I would like to avoid this if possible.  Do you think I might have to do this?

What I am wondering is if anyone out there has been faced with the same or similar type problem and what they did to solve the problem.  Or perhaps if someone is knowledgeable of Epson products, their interfaces and their compatibility with the Vista OS.  Or perhaps you could refer me to another source who might be able to answer my questions.

Thanks much, Al

[truenorth]

alwill,As an almost totally exclusively Epson user for over 12 years here are my observations and suggestions.You should 1st direct a question to Epson as to whether or not (and i highly suspect NOT) this printer is Vista compatible (even IF an adapter is available).Assuming it won't be then (a situation we faced) if you are able continue to use the computer it is working with for those printing functions you need that can be achieved with that combination. You could certainly upgrade the O/S to at least win98 if you felt you wanted to. But going to XP or Vista probably would not be adviseable or maybe even not possible on a win95 machine.You have identified another option which is to find another printer that will do the function you want with Vista.The printer will probably be not very expensive as the money is made on the ink. In the case of Epson(and some others) they have gone to proprietary "memory chips" on their cartridges making it difficult and adding additional costs to overcome "their" chips and be able to refill their cartridges--so that is something to think about when selecting a replacement if that is the way you chose to go.Personally if the old computer is doing the job i would continue to use that combination. Remember to turn your printer on (even if you don't need to actually use it) at least once a week to prolong the printer head life-and always turn them off when not in use for the same reason) goodluck,truenorth

[drmsucks]

The printer will probably be not very expensive as the money is made on the ink. In the case of Epson(and some others) they have gone to proprietary "memory chips" on their cartridges making it difficult and adding additional costs to overcome "their" chips and be able to refill their cartridges--so that is something to think about when selecting a replacement if that is the way you chose to go.

@truenorth: He's got an impact printer.

@Alwill: Truenorth's idea of going to Epson is a good one. The physical hookup of the printer may well be the easy part and the driver the hard part - Epson does show a driver for NT 4.0, however. Whether this would work in Vista or not, I don't know, but Epson could, perhaps, advise you. Perhaps there is a 'compatibility mode' that would work. In your worst case scenario - buy new - both Epson and Okidata have impact printers that will work with Vista.

Best of luck.

[truenorth]

drmsucks,Don't know how i missed that it is a dot matrix printer (guess it was due to the long ago utilization of win95 and my use of the old Apple 2e that used to have one). However that certainly adds to the aspect of the unlikeliness of a match with Vista.I am wondering if it is really the "dot matrix" feature that alwill desires to retain or is it some format (printing style,etc) that he doesn't want to lose? For instance we have one Epson printer that allows the use of tractor feed paper and though we don't use it often we do sometimes.another printer (again an Epson) allows printing to 22" width which we also don't use that often. However we do keep the 2 of them for those occasions when that feature is needed and one is still associated with a win98 O/S. Perhaps if alwill were to tell us what is exactly the function or feature that he desires to have we might suggest options beyond what has been stated so far.truenorth

[drmsucks]

I am wondering if it is really the "dot matrix" feature that alwill desires to retain or is it some format (printing style,etc) that he doesn't want to lose? ...Perhaps if alwill were to tell us what is exactly the function or feature that he desires to have we might suggest options beyond what has been stated so far.truenorth

Here's what he said:

The printer is in perfectly good working order and I need it for a particular application - printing duplicate forms - so I would very much like to make this conversion.

I assumed that he was creating duplicates with carbonless paper and needed the 'impact.' But, even so, there is probably a 'more modern' way (and, perhaps, cheaper) to get the "duplicate form."

You sound more knowledgeable than I about printing so, hopfully, @alwill will be back and you can help him.